Flushed with success – first fully accessible visitor toilets and Changing Places facility opens at the Museum

For the first time, our visitors will be able to ‘spend a penny’ as a brand-new building housing fully accessible toilets and changing facilities has been completed.

Built in the 18th century, Haworth Parsonage was home to the Brontë family from 1820 - 1861, a period when Haworth was an unsanitary, overcrowded, industrial town. According to a report commissioned by Patrick Brontë in 1850, there were no inside bathrooms and only 69 privies (outdoor toilets) - one for every four or so houses – in the whole of Haworth; only 24 houses had their own privy. Now, 200 years later, visitors to the Museum won’t be caught short on their visit!

“We are so pleased to finally be able to provide our visitors with the facilities expected of a world-class museum. Our previous lack of toilets was a significant barrier to access, and we are immensely grateful to Bradford Council, Bradford 2025 and Arts Council England for the funding to make its removal possible.”

Rebecca Yorke, Director of Brontë Parsonage Museum

The new facilities were made possible due to funding from the Bradford 2025 Cultural Capital Fund and Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme. The building includes four individual self-contained cubicles, one accessible toilet for people in wheelchairs or with prams that includes baby changing facilities and a Changing Places toilet (CPT). CPTs benefit from more space and specific equipment including a hoist, moveable changing bed and wash down facility, this is the only one of its kind in the local area. 

The Brontë Parsonage Museum was one of 21 organisations in the Bradford district to receive investment from the £3m Cultural Capital Fund, created to deliver projects that will increase the cultural infrastructure and enable more people – Bradford residents and visitors, to access and participate in cultural activities during 2025 and beyond.

“The Cultural Capital Fund was created by Bradford Council and Bradford 2025 to invest in Bradford’s cultural infrastructure across the district, improving amenities so that visitors and communities can have access to and participate in cultural activities during our year as UK City of Culture and for many more years to come. The Brontë Parsonage Museum is one of the jewels in Bradford’s cultural crown, and we are extremely happy to have played a part in bringing these new facilities to Haworth.”

Dan Bates, Executive Director for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture

Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme was formed to support communities across the country with building works and the purchase of equipment and other assets to improve access, seize on technological opportunities and reduce environmental impact.

“I’m delighted that we have awarded £100,000 through our Capital Investment Programme towards the creation of enhanced visitor facilities at the Brontë Parsonage Museum. These environmentally friendly improvements will increase accessibility to the building for everyone, and in particular for disabled people, older people and those with young children, meaning that more visitors can experience everything that the museum has to offer.”

Pete Massey, Director Yorkshire & The Humber, Arts Council England

Built using local contractors (Whitaker & Leach), locally-sourced suppliers and materials, the new facilities also feature a sedum planted ‘green’ roof to promote biodiversity.

"Good to see that the investment in city of culture is having practical benefit at local level, as well as supporting our tourism offer.  

Having a good mix of events, experiences, installation and physical improvements to infrastructure supporting culture is what this year is all about."

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Portfolio holder for healthy people and places